More facts have emerged on what led to the bloody clash between Nigeria’s military and the terrorist group, Boko Haram in Baga, Borno State that led to so many deaths two weeks ago.
Daily Sun authoritatively gathered from military sources that the terrorists, who had been using Niger Republic as their major base, sneaked into Baga in alarming numbers over some time and were trying to create a major base there preparatory to commencement of a round of deadly attacks in the state and Yobe. But for the timely intervention of the military, the terrorists, who were on the verge of procuring helicopters to add to their arsenal and commence aerial assault, would have destroyed the whole of Maiduguri, Damaturu and surrounding states, sources said.
Security sources told Daily Sun that apart from their intention to carry out more deadly attacks on Maiduguri, where they have made their stronghold, the terrorists had planned to launch attacks on commercial aircraft using their helicopter until they were taken unawares by the Nigerian military personnel there on internal security operation.
The military sources said they acted on very reliable intelligence from residents who had started noticing suspicious moves and faces in the area.
Apart from carrying out attacks in Maiduguri and its environs, the terrorists had also planned to attack other states using the helicopters to prove to the Nigerian military and also the federal government their superiority. Security reports indicated that even though the Joint Multi-National Task Force (JMNTF), which comprised the security operatives of Nigeria, Niger, Chad Cameroon, some other African countries and the other nations had not been so committed in the fight against terrorism as they had displayed lukewarm attitude to the mandate of the task force.
Operatives from some of the other nations who don’t feel much of the heat of the Boko Haram attacks were said to be the ones leaking security operations information to the terrorists, with a strong base in neighbouring Niger Republic.
As a result, they had access into Nigeria without hindrance and had turned Baga, a border territory with Lake Chad, into their armoury. The terrorists were said to have dumps their ammunitions at the least suspicious places in the town.
Daily Sun source noted that Boko Haram had been stockpiling in Baga enough armament to launch violent assault on the nation that they would have sustained for months if they had been spared to hatch their plans.
Some of the MNJTF operatives, according to Nigerian military officers battling the terrorists in the region were suspected to be providing security and shelter for the terrorists in their home countries and allowing them move freely into Nigeria, and sometimes undermine the strategies of the nation’s military to tackle the terrorists.
The terrorists were said to have concluded plans to commence aerial attack before they were intercepted. Right now, security had been beefed up around the border areas with a massive deployment of immigration officers to curtail movement of illegal aliens who were taking advantage of the porous borders to move into the country.
More troops had also been deployed to Baga and the locations around the border from the JTF to push the terrorists out of Nigeria’s territory and ensure they don’t return.
(Daily Sun)
via nigerianeye
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